About the Youth Justice Agency

About the Youth Justice Agency (YJA)

The Youth Justice Agency was launched as an Executive Agency, as recommended in the Criminal Justice Review 2000, on 1 April 2003. It replaced the former Juvenile Justice Board.

The Youth Justice Agency aims to make communities safer by helping children to stop offending. The Agency works with children aged 10-17 years who have offended or are at serious risk of offending.

The Agency provides a range of services, often delivered in partnership with others, to help children to address their offending behaviour, divert them from crime, assist their integration into the community and to meet the needs of victims of crime. These front-line services delivered by the Youth Justice Services and Custodial Services directorates.

A Corporate Services directorate provides a range of support functions to the operational strands of the Agency - including the management and delivery of personnel, finance, business planning, information technology, statistics & research and estate management - on behalf of the Chief Executive.

Mission statement and values

Our statement of purpose

“Making communities safer by helping children to stop offending”.

Our mission statement

To reduce offending by supporting children to achieve their full potential.

Our principles

We will

• Act in your best interests and promote your rights
• Advocate on your behalf
• Involve victims when appropriate
• Support you to repair harm and relationships
• Work in partnership with others
• Focus on your needs not just what you have done; and
• Focus on positive outcomes

Our shared values

We will:

• Treat you as individuals
• Focus on your strengths and encourage positivity
• Promote safety; and
• Listen to everyone and everyone will have a voice

We:

• Are fair, open and honest
• Are kind, compassionate and trauma aware; and
• Do not judge.

Operating framework

The YJA framework document defines the responsibilities of, and the relationship between, the Agency, the Department, Ministers and the Northern Ireland Assembly, including governance and accountability and outlines the Agency’s financial structure, personnel management arrangements and relationship with other agencies.

This updated version, published in December 2012, replaces the previous version which had been in force since the Agency was created in April 2003 (but updated in June 2008). This document has been reviewed by the Department and the Agency in accordance with DFP guidance on Framework Documents and reflects organisational and policy changes and the new relationships and arrangements resulting from the devolution of justice.

• Youth Justice Agency Executive Agency Framework Document

Policy

Youth justice policy is separate from the functions of the Agency and is one of the responsibilities of the Department.

Equality

Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 requires public authorities to promote equality of opportunity and good relations. These duties are designed, in particular, to ensure that equality issues are integral to the whole range of public policy decision making.

Human Rights

In carrying out its duties, the Agency will strive to protect the human rights of all those with whom it comes into contact. Children will receive the highest standards of care while they are with us.

Privacy policy

To learn more about your privacy and how it is affected by using this site, visit the following page:

• Your privacy